City of Largo Agenda Item 13 Form Revision Date: 01/23/18 Meeting Date 05/01/18 Presenter: Meridy Semones, OMB Manager Department: AD Administration TITLE: ORDINANCE NO. 2018-29 - FIRST READING - AMENDING THE FY 2018 POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL FUND BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF $233,200 FOR THE ADDITION OF 9.00 POLICE OFFICER FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS, AND AMENDING THE PAY PLAN TO ADD A RESERVE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER CLASSIFICATION In response to the Parkland, FL mass shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School, on March 9, 2018 the governor signed into law the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act-SB7026. Section 26 of SB 7026 mandates that a Safe School Officer (SSO) be assigned to each public school, which includes charter schools. A SSO is defined as a sheriff or police department employed law enforcement officer, or a school guardian (armed school personnel). The Pinellas County School Board (PCSB) voted on March 13, 2018 not to authorize the school guardian part of the program, therefore, there must be a law enforcement officer assigned to each public school. To implement the new Safe School Program outlined in the law, it will require an additional 101 new SRO positions county-wide, which is more than double the current 46 SRO positions. Additionally, all new SRO positions are required to be in place by July 1, 2018 so that the proper training is completed before the start of the new school year on August 13, 2018. The City of Largo currently provides a total of five School Resource Officers (SRO) at: Largo High School (2); Largo Middle School (1); and Pinellas Gulf Coast Academy (2). Four of these positions are partially reimbursed by PCSB in the amount of $58,000 per officer. In order to place one SRO at each public school in Largo City limits, an additional 9 officers are required. Recruiting, on-boarding and training 9 additional police officers is not possible between now and July 1, so the Police Department (PD) is taking a dual approach to comply with these mandates. First, PD is requesting to establish a Reserve SRO position in the pay plan, whereby retired (Largo or other agency) police officers can be employed by the City as SROs on a part-time, hourly basis. These positions would only receive the benefit of pro-rated health insurance, but not accrue retirement, sick or vacation leave. This program is in-line with the programs that many other departments across the state have in place (Coral Springs, Coconut Creek, Hallandale Beach). Continued on Page 2 Budgeted Amount: $0.00 Budget Page (s).: NA Available Amount: $0.00 Expenditure Amount: $233,200.00 Additional Budgetary Information: Funding Source(s): City Attorney Reviewed: General Fund Advisory Board Consistent { { { Recommendation: For With: N/A The undesignated General Fund ending fund balance for FY 2017 is $12.1 million. Sufficient Funds Available: { Against N/A Budget Amendment Required: { N/A Source: General Fund Balance t Applicable Potential Motion/ Direction Requested: I MOVE TO APPROVE/DISAPPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 2018-29 ON FIRST READING AND SCHEDULE A SECOND READING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON MAY 15, 2018. IF DISAPPROVED, THE CITY OF LARGO DECLINES TO PARTICIPATE IN FUDING OF THE SCHOOL SECURITY PROGRAM AS IT WOULD REPRESENT AN UNFUNDED MANDATE FROM THE STATE TO THE PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. Staff Contact: Meridy Semones, OMB Manager x7600 msemones@largo.com Attachments: Pages 2, Email Survey Results, and Ordinance 2018-29.
School Resource Officers Page 2 The alternative to adding positions is to pull from or shut-down the City s two specialty policing units: Problem Oriented Policing (POP) and the Traffic Safety Unit (TSU). This approach would maintain minimum patrol staffing, and not compromise any on-going investigations in the Investigative Services Division. SRO Program Costs: County-wide, the new total program cost for both new and existing SROs is $20.1 million. The total revenue from the State for the Safe School Program is $6.1 million, of which $2.9 million is new money for the expanded program. The current contribution by the sheriff s office and police departments is $1.6 million for a total of $7.7 million. This means the additional annual funding needed to implement the law is $12.4 million ($20.1 million minus $7.7 million). For Largo, the estimated new costs of the SRO program are outlined in the table below. te, the City s position is that the program should be funded 100% by the state and/or PCSB, but the PCSB has only verbally committed to the current reimbursement rate of $58,000 per Officer. As represented in the cost table below, this budget amendment is authorizing the addition of 9.00 FTE Police Officer positions to PD, and associated personnel and operating costs (salaries, benefits, uniforms, equipment, etc.) from July 1 September 30, as well as amending the pay plan to add the Reserve SRO classification. The Police Chief and the City Manager will administratively manage recruitment and authorize the hiring of a Reserve SRO or a Police Officer as deemed necessary. It is important to note that the costs for this program do not include the purchase of additional vehicles. PD will be holding back 9 vehicles due for replacement this year to be used for the program. These vehicles are primarily parked at the schools during the day, and not used for regular patrol duties. The FY 2019 column in the cost table below represents the amount that will be included in the FY 2019 Proposed Budget to fund 9.00 FTE Police Officer Positions for the entire year. The estimated revenue that may off-set costs in FY 2019 is approximately $525,000, if PCSB funds the program at the current rate of $58,000/officer. The City of Largo has not received a contract or Memorandum of Understanding containing funding commitments from PCSB at this time. Costs: FY 2018 FY 2019 New Personnel $173,500 $713,700 New Operating $59,700 $15,000 Total $233,200 $728,700 City Manager Analysis and Recommendation The Florida Legislature and Governor have mandated that school districts establish a SRO within every public school (including charter schools) starting with the upcoming school year. In Pinellas County, all middle and high schools already have SRO s assigned to each school; therefore, the impact of this legislation is the additional SROs for the elementary and charter schools. While the State appropriated substantial funds for this program, they did not appropriate sufficient funds. This is now a significant unfunded mandate on the school districts throughout the state. The PCSB has sought to partially recoup this unfunded mandate by only offering to fund new SRO positions provided by municipal police departments or the sheriff in the amount of $58,000 each, which is far less than our cost of $86,000 for a new Police Officer position (not including a vehicle). The City Attorney s opinion is that the SRO mandate is on the school district and not the municipalities or sheriff. The PCSB has the option of either contracting for these services or increasing the staffing of their own police department. The proposed increase in the homestead exemption, if approved by voter referendum, will take effect in FY 2020. It would apply to municipalities and counties, but not to school districts. If it passes, I am certain that the PCSB would not be willing to assist us by assuming part or all of the cost of school crossing guards currently fully funded by the City of Largo. The policy question to be decided by the City Commission is whether we should subsidize the cost for the PCSB to provide SROs within the elementary and charter schools. It is my recommendation that the City only provide SROs for the elementary and charter schools if we are reimbursed the full cost of providing the service. In lieu of the City of Largo providing the service, the PCSB can either contract with the Sheriff or expand their own police department. We should continue to provide SROs for the middle school and high schools, with the goal of receiving full funding for these in the future. These positions serve a public purpose in that they are an extension of our community policing efforts. Attached are the results of an email I sent to the other municipalities in Pinellas County regarding their positions on the provision and funding of SRO s.
School Resource Officer (SRO) Survey Distributed April 19, 2018 1. Do you have elementary and charter schools in your city? If no, thank you and you do not need to continue. 2. Do you have elementary and charter schools in your city that do not currently have assigned SRO s? a. If yes, how many of each? 3. If you contract with the Sheriff s Office for police services: a. Does the Sheriff staff schools in your city with SRO s? b. If yes, then are you charged by the Sheriff for that portion of the cost of each current SRO not funded by the School Board? c. Has the Sheriff indicated if he will charge you for that portion of the cost of each additional SRO in elementary and charter schools not funded by the School Board? 4. If you have your own police department: a. Does the Sheriff currently staff any schools in your city with SRO s? b. Do you plan to contract with the School Board to provide SRO s in elementary and charter schools in your city if all your cost is reimbursed by the School Board? c. Do you plan to contract with the School Board to provide SRO s in elementary and charter schools in your city if only a portion of your cost is reimbursed by the School Board? d. If you provide the SRO s, will you rehire retired police officers from your agency? e. If you provide the SRO s, will you create part-time school resource officer classifications to work only during the school year for at least a portion of the needed positions? SRO Budget Amendment, Page 3
Municipality Response Question Safety Harbor Gulfport* Belleair Oldsmar Tarpon Springs Pinellas Park Clearwater St. Petersburg 1 1 Elementary 1 Elementary 2 Elementary Response Response 2 N/A 6 5 Elementary 2a 1 Elementary N/A N/A 2 Elementary 2 1 Charter 3a, Middle School N/A 3b N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 3c N/A N/A N/A N/A 4a N/A N/A N/A, If Approved by 4b N/A N/A N/A Council City Manager 4c N/A N/A N/A Recommends Council Requested to Amend Pension 4d N/A N/A N/A Ordinance 4e N/A N/A N/A Undecided * It is Gulfport City Council s intent (Resolution 2018 34, Adopted April 17, 2018), that prior to July 1, 2018 to completely fund one (1) additional Police Officer Position within the City s Police Department to provide appropriate staffing levels to facilitate the (SRO) position for Gulfport Elementary until the contractual/funding/reimbursement issues can be resolved between the City of Gulfport and the Pinellas County School Board. SRO Budget Amendment, Page 4
1 ORDINANCE NO. 2018-29 2 3 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF LARGO, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE 4 56 7 89 10 11 FY 2018 BUDGET ADOPTED BY RESOLUTION NO. 2194 BY APPROPRIATING EXPENDITURES IN THE AMOUNT OF $233,200 IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR THE ADDITION OF 9.00 POLICE OFFICER FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS, AND AMENDING THE PAY PLAN TO ADD A RESERVE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER CLASSIFICATION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 12 WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Largo, Florida, adopted by Resolution. 2194 an Annual Operating Budget for the City of Largo for FY 2018; and 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 WHEREAS, on March 9, 2018 the governor signed into law the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safey Act-SB 7026, which mandates that a Safe School Officer (SSO) be assigned to each public school, including charter schools; and WHEREAS, the Pinellas County School Board voted on March 13, 2018 to utilize sworn law enforcement officers in each school, known as School Resource Officers (SROs); and WHEREAS, the City of Largo currently provides five SRO positions in three schools, and is required to add nine additional SRO positions by July 1, 2018 in order to comply with the state mandate; and WHEREAS, the pay plan amendment includes creating a new Reserve SRO to allow retired police officers to serve as SROs when available; and WHEREAS, Pinellas County School Board will not provide off-setting revenue to start this program during FY 2018; however, off-setting revenue to partially off-set the costs is expected during FY 2019; and WHEREAS, such supplemental appropriation and allocation of funds is in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and the Largo City Charter. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF LARGO CITY COMMISSION HEREBY ORDAINS: Section 1. That Resolution. 2194 adopting the FY 2018 Operating and Capital Improvements Budget is hereby amended by appropriating expenditures in the amount of $233,200 in the Police Department General Fund Budget for the addition of 9.00 Police Officer Full-Time Equivalent Positions, and amending the pay plan to add a Reserve School Resource Officer Classification. Section 2. That allocation of said funds shall be as follows; 43 a. Revenue 44 General Fund Unrestricted Fund Balance $233,200 45 46 b. Expenditures 47 01-521-3912-12 Regular Wages 01-521-3912-52 Operating Supplies 01-521-3912-55 Uniforms 48 49 50 $173,500 $32,700 $27,000 SRO Budget Amendment, Page 5
51 Section 3. That the provisions of this ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its final passage and 52 adoption. 53 54 55 APPROVED ON FIRST READING 56 57 PASSED AND ADOPTED ON 58 SECOND AND FINAL READING 59 60 61 CITY OF LARGO, FLORIDA 62 63 64 65 Louis L. Brown, Mayor 66 67 68 REVIEWED AND APPROVED: ATTEST: 69 Vjnt>ylAQ-7kyte_- 70 71 Alan S. Zimmet, City Attorney Diane Bruner, City Clerk SRO Budget Amendment, Page 6